The 2024/25 Premier League season is hurtling towards its halfway point, and Paddy’s pal Mark Lawrenson is steadfastly gazing into his crystal ball every single match day.
The Soccer Soothsayer has read the signs and crunched the numbers to produce his Premier League predictions over the coming days. Let’s see what the future holds…
Tuesday 7:30pm: Ipswich Town v Crystal Palace
TV: Amazon Prime Video (UK), Premier Sports 2 (Ireland)
You feel a bit sorry for Palace manager Oliver Glasner because they sold two of their best players in the summer, Michael Olise and Joachim Andersen, and they’ve got to do that, but it means from the first game of the season, you are under pressure.
I thought Ipswich might’ve done a bit better by now, as they’ve got some quality players and are at home in this. Until you win a few games in the Premier League, you’re never really convinced that you should be there.
I like the way they play, though, and it feels like they just need to get a break to go their way, as we know they’re well-coached.
That’s why I am going for a rare home win: Ipswich 2-1 Crystal Palace.
Tuesday 8:15pm: Leicester v West Ham
TV: Amazon Prime Video (UK), Premier Sports 1 (Ireland)
Obviously, this is Ruud van Nistelrooy’s first game in charge at Leicester, and it can’t come soon enough as I thought they were naive at the weekend and paid for it.
Steve Cooper wasn’t a popular choice there as they have a rivalry with Forest, and it felt like they were waiting for him to slip up and they’d sack him.
He’s been treated quite badly, though it tells you a lot that Jamie Vardy is still the best player they’ve got and he’ll be up for his pension soon!
West Ham were battered by Arsenal, which often seems to happen when they go there. Julen Lopetegui is also under massive pressure, though, and I can see this playing out as a draw – Leicester 1-1 West Ham.
Wednesday 7:30pm: Everton v Wolves
TV: Amazon Prime Video (UK)
Everton’s fixtures after this are really tough. They were taken apart on Sunday at Old Trafford, although in the first half, they were probably the better team. Wolves played out a mad game with Bournemouth, with Justin Kluivert scoring three penalties.
They are playing for their manager, though—there’s no question about that—and Everton are really struggling for goals, so I’ll go for Everton 1-2 Wolves.
Under Sean Dyche, Everton are usually difficult to play against, but they just collapsed against United, and it’s worrying for them. They also face Liverpool at the weekend, so it’s not getting any easier.
Wednesday 7:30pm: Man City v Nottingham Forest
TV: Amazon Prime Video (UK)
Man City were all over the place against Liverpool. They had maybe one spell where they looked dangerous, but that was it, and you can’t just blame it on Rodri. Many of City’s players are out of form and Liverpool could’ve won much easier.
The manager must be thinking, “What the hell?!” because he’s never had a run like this in his managerial career. You keep thinking they’ll sort it out in the next game, but they haven’t yet.
Forest got the win they needed at the weekend, but I expect City to get it right soon, so I’ll pick them to win—Man City 2-0 Nott’m Forest.
Wednesday 7:30pm: Newcastle v Liverpool
TV: Amazon Prime Video (UK), Premier Sports 2 (Ireland)
Newcastle are struggling. They’re saying they can’t buy players and the results have not been great. The manager has gone from being one of the favourites for the England job to being one of the favourites for the sack. This is a big game for them. Liverpool are going there with no real problems.
Arne Slot might make three or four changes, but it won’t weaken the side because he’s basically got two players for every single position. He must’ve got the job the first day and could not believe his luck, as the guy before him left 22 top international players to work with.
Newcastle will probably be quite negative and try to shut out Liverpool, especially if Aleksander Isak is out, as reports suggest. They might be able to pull it off, so I’ll go for Newcastle 1-1 Liverpool.
Wednesday 7:30pm: Southampton v Chelsea
TV: Amazon Prime Video (UK)
Chelsea are going well. While we were all laughing at them at the start of the season, not knowing who was on their team, now the manager has done great to get them all working to stay on the team.
But I’m a big fan of the Southampton manager, Russell Martin. I think he’s going to get a really big job somewhere. I love how they play – they don’t change, have a go at anyone, and are not frightened by any team. They even like going up against the big teams.
Yes. They’ll have reversals because they don’t have strength-in-depth but have some very good players, and I fancy them to end Chelsea’s strong run on Wednesday – Southampton 2-1 Chelsea.
Wednesday 8:15pm: Arsenal v Man United
TV: Amazon Prime Video (UK), Premier Sports 1 (Ireland)
United had a really good win, with Rashford and Zirkzee getting a brace each, but for half an hour, they were under the cosh. Everton had their chances, but then they completely collapsed.
Amorim still won’t know what his best team is, but he’s got mobility, and he has players who look hungry to score—the three strikers have all scored twice in the last couple of games.
Arsenal dealt with West Ham comfortably and know they’ll have to keep winning now to have a chance of keeping up with Liverpool and staying with them. Recent results have shown that, with their captain back, they have rediscovered their mojo.
They look the biggest threat to Liverpool at the moment, and I’ll go for them to win—Arsenal 2-1 Man United.
Wednesday 8:15pm: Aston Villa v Brentford
TV: Amazon Prime Video (UK)
Villa have really suffered with the Champions League. It sounds daft, but it’s difficult to play so many more games, and they don’t have the biggest playing staff.
However, Brentford aren’t good away, so I’m leaning more towards Villa to get back on the bike. They’ve made chances in their games but just haven’t taken them. They know they need to turn the corner and I think this will be it. Aston Villa 2-0 Brentford
Thursday 7.30pm: Fulham v Brighton
TV: Amazon Prime Video (UK), Premier Sports 2 (Ireland)
This will be a good game as both sides like to play. Fulham were so unfortunate not to win at Tottenham on Sunday. They are another team with a good Portuguese manager. They can get in your face and play some good football too.
I think they should have 4 or 5 more points than they do—they’ve had some tough results. Brighton is probably due a defeat as well, so I’d look at Fulham 2-1 Brighton.
Thursday 8.15pm: Bournemouth v Tottenham
TV: Amazon Prime Video (UK), Premier Sports 1 (Ireland)
With Tottenham, we know what it’s like – heads, they’re really good, tails, they’re awful. It was a bit of a mixture of both at the weekend. I’ll go for a draw between these two. It’s not Tottenham’s kind of result – it’s either win 4-0 or get beaten 4-0 for them.
I love how they can play at their best, and I love the manager because he just tells it like it is. But I fancy Bournemouth 1-1 Tottenham.
Lawro’s Premier League predictions
Ipswich 2-1 Crystal Palace.
Leicester 1-1 West Ham
Everton 1-2 Wolves
Man City 2-0 Nott’m Forest
Newcastle 1-1 Liverpool
Southampton 2-1 Chelsea
Arsenal 2-1 Man United
Aston Villa 2-0 Brentford
Fulham 2-1 Brighton
Bournemouth 1-1 Tottenham
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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